West Philippine Sea
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At China Sea Impasse, Manila Bolsters Navy
MANILA— The Philippine Navy is upgrading its capabilities at a time of continuing tensions with China over disputed territory in the South China Sea. In recent weeks, an Indonesian naval shipbuilder started work on two “strategic sealift vessels” that the Philippines is acquiring for more than $87 million and expects within two years, said Commander […]
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China continues to consolidate presence, control in S. China Sea
Artificial Islands, ASEAN, China, Code of Conduct, Philippines, Reclamation, Sout China Sea Dispute, Spratlys, UNCOS, Unsinkable Aircraft CarrierChina is beefing up its rapid deployment force in the disputed Spratly Islands to enable it to respond at short notice in case tensions flare up in the South China Sea, which geologists believe contains huge oil and mineral gas deposits, according to Philippine government officials. Beijing’s rapid expansion and upgrading of military infrastructure on […]
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Manila urges Beijing to halt reclamation work on Mischief Reef
Aritficial Islands, China, Philippines, Reclamation, South China Sea Dispute, Spratlys, UNCLOS, Unsnkable Aircraft Carriers(Reuters) – The Philippines strongly urged China to stop reclamation work on a disputed submerged reef within its exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea, the foreign ministry said on Friday. A Philippine navy commander said on Thursday that China had started dredging around the disputed Mischief Reef, signalling Beijing may be preparing to […]
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Crowded Waters: The South China Sea’s Next Big Flashpoint?
Analysis, Arms Race, China, Military Buildup, Military Conflict, Philippines, South China Sea DisputeThe South China Sea ranks high on any list of the world’s geopolitical hotspots. But though the region has been volatile for centuries, the last two decades have witnessed a subtle shift in the underlying drivers of conflict. Through most of the second half of the twentieth century, the biggest threats to regional stability were […]
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PHL files two diplomatic protests over China’s harassment of Pinoy fishers
China, Chinese Poachers, Environmental Impact, Fishing Rights, Philippines, Scarborough Shoal, South China Sea DisputeThe Philippines on Wednesday lodged two diplomatic protests against China’s alleged harassment of Filipino fishermen off the Manila-claimed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea and its illegal harvest of endangered species in the same area. In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs said the diplomatic notes were handed to representatives of the Chinese […]
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World View: China Builds More Man-Made Islands in the South China Sea
Airstrips, Artificial Islands, China, Philippines, Reclamation, South China Sea Dispute, Unsinkable Aircraft CarriersChina continues to occupy regions in the South China Sea that have historically belonged to other countries, and continues a massive military effort to enforce its seizures. In addition to building oil rigs and taking control of fishing grounds in other countries’ territories, China has been building man-made islands to use as military bases and […]
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How China Exploits a Loophole in International Law in Pursuit of Hegemony in East Asia
How is China pursuing its territorial claims in the South and East China Seas while also avoiding overt confrontations with the US and other regional powers? According to James Kraska, Beijing’s coercive actions fall short – quite intentionally – of what constitutes an ‘armed attack’ in international law. By James Kraska for Foreign Policy Research […]
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Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative
Introduction The arbitration case launched by the Philippines against China currently stands as the most significant, and most closely watched, development for specialists and observers of the maritime disputes in the South China Sea (SCS). To help observers navigate through this foggy proceeding, this article attempts to provide a focused overview of the arbitration case […]
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China’s Lawful Position on the South China Sea
Researchers at a key government-funded institute in China appear to have contradicted their director to lay out a moderate, or at least undecided, position for China on the so-called nine-dash line in a recent edition of Eurasia Review. This line, which was first drawn by the Nationalist government of China before 1949, appears to demarcate […]